Methods and apparatus for producing and for applying labels

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for applying labels including hanging labels, in the form of a continuous web of material to containers is defined. The apparatus includes first and second reels on which the continuous web material is wound for application to containers by the apparatus. The apparatus includes an automatic splicing arrangement for feeding web material from a second reel after the first reel is exhausted. The labels are in the form of a continuous web of material and no separate support web is provided for the labels. The apparatus includes a pair of interchange rollers and a pair of associated guide means which merge to define a single guide means, and an indexing means disposed adjacent the point where the guide means merge. The interchange rollers are synchronously driven by a single drive means via a servo means or the like. The web of labels is made by printing on one or both sides of the web of material and plough-folding the web of material parallel to the longitudinal axis of the material to generate a succession of joined multi-layer labels or leaflets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of producing labels and to amethod and an apparatus for applying labels to a container such as abox, packet, bottle, tin or the like. In particular aspects, the presentinvention relates to a method of producing multi-layer labels which maydefine a through aperture which may be used to “hook” such a label overthe neck of a wine bottle or the like and thereby hang the label fromthe bottle's neck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to produce multi-layer labels for attachment to products.The labels may, for example, carry a guarantee, instructions, details ofa competition or the like. Known methods of making such labels utilise aself adhesive label material carried on a backing layer of releasematerial as a base stock and a series of folded leaflet assemblies areattached to the self adhesive label material which is cut and processedto form label/leaflet assemblies for attachment to containers and thelike. One such process is described in AU 585313. However, the knownmethods such as are described in AU 585313 are generally quitecomplicated, and thus expensive, multi-stage processes and also sufferfrom high raw material costs due the high costs of self adhesive labelmaterial. There are also high levels of wastage during the manufacturingprocesses. The release material is always wasted. The labels made bysuch processes are thus expensive to produce.

It is known to manufacture such multi-layer labels carried on a web ofrelease material in an assembly mounted to a sheet of material whichdefines an aperture which can be used to hook the sheet over the neck ofa wine bottle or the like, thereby hanging the label from the bottle.Machines exist which can directly apply such multi-layer labels carriedon a web of release material to necks of wine bottles and the like.

An alternative to the manufacture of labels based on self-adhesive stockis to manufacture less expensive labels based on non self-adhesivestock. However, the problem with such labels is that without the webrelease material to carry the labels, the labels cannot be appliedsuccessfully by machine. It is then necessary to apply the labels overthe necks of the bottles by hand which is expensive in terms of labourcosts and tends to negate the cost savings achieved by the use ofcheaper non self-adhesive stock.

One aim of the present invention is to produce an inexpensivemulti-layer label. A further aim of the present invention is to providean improved machine for applying labels to containers and the like,particularly, but not exclusively, hanging labels.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or thelike which has been included in the present specification is solely forthe purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is notto be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form partof the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the fieldrelevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia orelsewhere before the priority date of each claim of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one broad aspect, the present invention envisages a machine forapplying a web of joined labels carried on a roll or the like ontocontainers.

Thus in a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus forapplying labels in the form of a continuous web of material with noseparate support web to containers or the like.

A related aspect provides an apparatus for applying labels in the formof a continuous web of material to containers or the like includingfirst and second reels of the continuous web material characterised byan automatic splicing arrangement for feeding web material from a secondreel after the first reel is exhausted.

The apparatus may include a pair of interchange rollers and a pair ofassociated guide means which merge to define a single guide means and anindexing means disposed adjacent the point where the guide means merge.The interchange rollers are synchronously driven by a single drive meansvia a servo means or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes two pairs of spacedapart upper and lower belt means adapted to transport a label, withopposite longitudinal edges of the label carried between the pairs ofbelt means, forming part of an applicator means for applying the labelsover the neck of a bottle or the like.

The expression “labels” as used herein, includes single layer labels, aswell as multi-layer labels and “hanging labels”.

The apparatus may be used to apply hanging labels to bottle neckswherein the labels include an upper portion defining an aperture throughwhich a neck of a bottle may pass and an associated biasing means forbiasing the main body portion against the bottle.

According to a related aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of manufacturing multi-layer folded printed leafletsor labels comprising the steps of:

providing a web of sheet material having two sides and defining alongitudinal axis;

printing on one or both sides of the web of material; and

plough-folding the web of material parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe material to generate a succession of joined multi-layer labels orleaflets.

The method may also include the step of applying glue along one side ofthe web to seal the leaflets.

The method may also include the step of cutting and shaping the labelsand forming perforations on the labels adjacent the glue to define atear off strip or the like enabling the sealed leaflet to be opened.

The labels remain joined to one another as a single web which can beformed into a roll or the like for storage. Thus the first aspect of thepresent invention generates multi-layer labels in the form of foldedleaflets which may be printed on both sides which can be rolled up andwhich do not require a carrier as the web defines both the labels andthe carrier.

The labels can be made from any suitable non-self adhesive stock whichcreates substantial cost savings.

The labels may be made in any desired shape including in a hanging labelform in which an aperture is defined which can be hooked over the neckof a wine bottle or the like.

The labels may have an inside text and outside text. The web materialmay be folded once, twice or more times in order to create a foldedleaflet.

The present invention also envisages a machine for applying a web ofjoined labels carried on a roll or the like onto containers, thus in asecond broad aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus forapplying labels in the form of a continuous web of material with noseparate support web to containers or the like.

A related broad aspect provides an apparatus for applying labels in theform of a continuous web of material to containers or the like includingfirst and second reels of the continuous web material characterised byan automatic splicing arrangement for feeding web material from a secondreel after the first reel is exhausted.

The apparatus may include a pair of interchange rollers and a pair ofassociated guide means which merge to define a single guide means and anindexing means disposed adjacent the point where the guide means mergeThe interchange rollers are synchronously driven by a single drive meansvia a servo means or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes two pairs of spacedapart upper and lower belt means adapted to transport a label, withopposite longitudinal edges of the label carried between the pairs ofbelt means, forming part of an applicator means for applying the labelsover the neck of a bottle or the like.

The expression “labels” as used herein, includes single layer labels, aswell as multi-layer labels and “hanging labels”.

The apparatus may be used to apply hanging labels to bottle neckswherein the labels include an upper portion defining an aperture throughwhich a neck of a bottle may pass and an associated biasing means forbiasing the main body portion against the bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a is a front view of a section of a web of sheet material for usein manufacturing multi-layer labels;

FIG. 1 b is a rear view of the section of web of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1 c is a view of the section of web shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 bafter it has been plough folded and die-cut;

FIGS. 2 a to 2 c are corresponding views of a section of a web of sheetmaterial for use in forming a modified label design to that shown inFIG. 1 c;

FIG. 3 a is a front view of a section of a web of sheet material onwhich a third label design is printed;

FIG. 3 b shows the section of web of FIG. 3 a after it has been ploughfolded;

FIG. 3 c shows the plough folded section of web of FIG. 3 b after hasbeen die-cut and waste material has been removed;

FIG. 4 a is a front view of a section of a web on which a hanging labelshaving a fourth design has been printed;

FIG. 4 b shows the section of web of FIG. 4 a after it has been folded,die-cut, and waste material has been removed;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a yet further label design;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a first label application apparatus forapplying hanging labels to a wine bottle or the like;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic side view of a guide which forms part of thelabel application apparatus as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a belt feed system which forms part of thelabel application apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 shows a variant of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 shows a further variant of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 shows a yet further variant of the apparatus of FIG. 6 used toapply a label to a container having a generally cylindrical crosssection;

FIG. 12 shows a yet further variant of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6used to apply labels to the body of a generally rectangular container;and

FIG. 13 shows a further hanging label design including a cantilever typebiasing means to press the label to the neck of the bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 a shows a short section of a web ofmaterial 10, typically paper. The web extends continuously In thedirection of longitudinal axis A and may be hundreds of meters long. TheFigure shows the front face of the web on which a repeating label designis printed. The same label design is printed as a continuous patternextending along the entire length of the web. The design is for ahanging label 12 also known as a neck-tag which may have outside text 14printed on a part of the web which forms the front of the label andoutside text 16 printed on the part of the web which is to form the backof the label. The design defines a generally circular portion 18 whichin the finished label is cut out to define an aperture 19 through whichthe neck of a wine bottle, or the like may be inserted to allow thefinished label to hang from the neck of that bottle.

The reverse face of the web shown in FIG. 1 b is printed in registrationwith the front face shown in FIG. 1 a. “Inside text” 20, 22 which in thefinished folded label will appear inside the folded label is printed onthat reverse face.

The “text” whether inside or outside may include or comprise images aswell as text and is not limited to any particular subject matter. Itwill typically relate to a competition or special offer but is notlimited to that subject matter. The manner in which the design isprinted on the web is not critical provided that the designs printed onthe front and reverse faces of the web are in correct registration withrespect to one another.

FIG. 1 c is a schematic view of the label after it has been folded anddie-cut to remove the circular cut-out 18 to define the circularaperture 19 and to define a perforation strip 28 which can be tom off toopen the label and reveal the inside text 20, 22. There is an amount ofwaste web material 24, 26 which can be removed at the die-cutting stageor may be removed during the process of applying the labels tocontainers or the like. It is also necessary to glue the label closedalong the tear off/perforation strip 28. Again, the stage at which thisprocess occurs is noncritical.

It is important however that the labels remain joined to one anotherfront end 30 to rear end 32 so that they define a continuous web ofmaterial.

As part of the process of label manufacture, prior to, or after ploughfolding the web, one side of the material may be coated with an adhesiveand cured prior to the labels being wound up into reel form. The type ofadhesive used may be of the type which may be re-activated at a laterstage, days or months later. Heat, ultra violet light, infra-red, orother means, may be used to activate the cured adhesive. This will allowthe adhesion of labels onto products, by simply activating the adhesiveat point of label application onto the product. The adhesive only coversthe part of the label where the label needs to adhere onto the product.

The remaining Figures show different label designs which operate on thesame principle as the labels shown in FIGS. 1 a to 1 c. In particular.FIGS. 2 a to 2 c show a similar design of label 30 to that shown inFIGS. 1 a to 1 c but in which perforations 32 which allow the finishedlabel to open extend only part way along the side of the label as far asa transverse cut 34 so that only the lower part of the label opens up toreveal the inside text 36.

FIG. 3 a shows one side of a web from which a yet further design ofhanging label 40 is produced.

FIG. 3 b shows the web folded over, and FIG. 3 c shows the folded webdie-cut with the waste material removed. In the design shown in FIGS. 3a to 3 c a crease line 42 is formed on the label so that the front panel44 is oriented at an angle of between about 90 to 140 degrees or so, sothat when the aperture 19 is placed over the neck of a bottle, the frontpanel may lie generally parallel with the sides of the bottle, or atleast protrude less than if the label were planar.

FIG. 4 a shows one side of a web on which a yet further label design isshown in which the resultant label 50 has two folds 52, 54 and threelayers. Text may also be printed on the reverse side of the web inregistration with the front side. FIG. 4 b shows the web after it hasbeen plough folded to define a plurality of conjoined hanging labels.Glue is applied in the area 56 to seal the label closed.

FIG. 5 shows a front face of a web 60 on which a further leaflet designhas been printed. On the reverse face of the web, not shown, inside Itfor the label is printed. In contrast with the labels shown in FIGS. 1to 4, the label shown in FIG. 5 is not a hanging label therefore doesnot define a circular aperture 19, but is of the type that may be simplyglued or otherwise attached to the exterior of a container or the like.

All the different embodiments of folded labels described above can bestored on rolls for use prior to the labels being separated form oneanother and dispensed onto containers. Alternatively, the labels may befolded in a zig zag or “fanfold” pattern, one above the other in boxesor the like.

It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the labeldesigns shown in the drawings are exemplary only and that the shapes ofthe labels may be changed without departing from the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic drawing of a label applying apparatus 100 forapplying the rolls of labels described and shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 overthe neck of a bottle. The apparatus includes an automatic splicing meanswhich enables continuous operation of the labelling apparatus 100. Theapparatus includes a framework 100A on which various components of theapparatus are mounted including two reel loading stations 102, 104. Eachloading station includes a proximity switch, not illustrated, whichprovides a signal to an operator and/or to a control means 101 when thereel is close to finishing. Each reel 102, 104 has an associated unwindarm, 106, 108 respectively, which feeds web material 110 from therespective reels towards guide means 112, 114.

The guide means 112, 114 merge to form a single guide channel 116. Aschematic section through guide means 116 is shown in FIG. 7—the sectionis the same as that through guide means 112 and 114. The guide meanscomprises two opposed C-shaped sections 116A, B which support the edgesof the web 110 and a curved support 117 which inhibits the web fromdropping out from between the supports 116A, B.

An interchange feed roller 118, 120 is associated with each respectiveguide channel 112, 114. Each interchange feed roller is generallycylindrical apart from one part where it defines a flat section 122. Theinterchange feed rollers are linked by a servo mechanism, are driven bythe same motor and rotate synchronously.

After the point where the two web guide channels 112 and 114 merge, anindex scanner 124 is provided which informs the control means 101 when aregistration mark on a label forming part of the web of labels passesit. Following the index scanner, there is a pair of feed rollers 126,128. At the end of the guide channel there is a cutting knife 130,scissor or the like or alternatively a rotary cutting means, not shown.Further feed rollers 132, 134 are defined after the cutting knife 130.Each feed roller 132, 134 is associated with a further roller 136, 138respectively and belt drives extend between rollers 132 and 136 and 134and 138. FIG. 8 shows a top schematic view of the lower belt drivesassociated with rollers 134 and 138. As shown two endless belts 140A,140B extend between the two rollers. The belts are spaced apart Thearrangement of upper belts 142 around rollers 132 and 136 may be similarbut is more typically a single wider belt or multiple belts. Thus, withreference to FIG. 8, labels 12 which are fed between the two guiderollers 132, 134 are carried along the belt drive with the longitudinaledges of the labels 12A held between the lower belts and the upperbelt(s). This leaves the central area of the label uncovered from theunderside at least, depending on the type of upper belt employed, andallows hot melt adhesive or the like to be applied to that central area,if desired.

A web fault index scanner 135 is provided after the rollers 132, 134.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 a vacuum section 144 may be defined by theupper belts to retain the label against the upper belts for releasingthe label onto the neck of a bottle or for carrying it onto products.

In use, each loading station will ideally be loaded with a reel oflabels for dispensing, although only one loading station need be loaded.The operator then feeds the end of the web of one only of the loadingstations into the guide channel 112 or 114 and passes the interchangefeed roller associated with that guide channel. At this stage bothinterchange feed rollers are oriented with the flat portion 122 alignedwith the guide means to make feeding of the web easier. The motorassociated with the interchange feed rollers is then started, and asonly one of the guide channels is loaded with a web, only the web inthat feed channel will be fed through the guide means past the indexscanner to the feed rollers 126, 128. As soon as the index scanner 124reads a registration mark on the label and informs the control means 101that the web has been engaged by the feed rollers 126, 128, the feedrollers 118 and 120 are stopped with the flat portions again parallel tothe guide means so that both interchange feed rollers are disengagedfrom the web.

The web is then fed by the feed rollers 126, 128 through the cuttingmeans 130, through the feed rollers 132, 134 until the registrationpoint of the label reaches the web fault index scanner 135. The scanner135 is located such that when the registration point or end of the labelis detected by the index scanner 135, the bottom end of the label 12 islocated at the knife 130 and the knife is then operated by the controlmeans to separate the label from the web. The label is then fed alongthe belt means onto a bottle 146 which may be carried on a conveyor, orcarousel or any suitable such means. It is possible, in use, to move thebelt drive more quickly than the web feed, if desired. It may typicallymove at twice the speed of the web through the apparatus. The vacuumsection 144 assists in the retaining and accurate release of the labelabove the neck of the bottle.

The web 112 continues to feed through in the manner described aboveuntil the last label is reached on the loading station 102 at which timethe proximity detector alerts the operator to the fact that the secondreel 104 will have to be prepared. Ideally, the last label will beattached to the loading station by removable adhesive so that the lastlabel may be utilised rather than discarded. The operator then ensuresthat the end of the web on reel 104 is located in the guide channel 114and extends past the feed roller 120. The index scanner 124 detects whenthe last label on reel 102 passes the scanner and after the end of thatlabel has passed, activates the feed roller 120 so that the machine thenbegins automatically dispensing labels from reel 104. The operator thenreloads reel 102 and the process continues.

FIG. 9 shows a variant of the apparatus of FIG. 6 which is substantiallyidentical to the apparatus of FIG. 6 except that it includes a foldingbar 150 defined between the cutting means 130 and the feed rollers 132,134 which applies a transverse crease to the hanging label 12. Insteadof a folding bar, a rotary creasing device may be employed.

FIG. 10 shows a further variant of the apparatus of FIG. 6. In thisembodiment, the lower belt drives 140, which carry the label to the neckof the bottle, extend further with the lower roller 138 located close tothe roller 136 of the upper belt drive 142. The upper belt drive alsocomprises two spaced apart endless side belts 142A, 142B. In use, theneck of the bottle 146 locates between rollers 136 and 138 and betweenthe lower side belts 140A, 140B (see FIG. 8) and the upper side belts142A, 142B. The longitudinal edges of the label are carried betweenupper and lower side belts pairs 140A, 142A and 140B, 142B,respectively. Between the side belts, there is a gap along which thecentral part of the label is carried and which receives the neck of thebottle 146 This arrangement allows the side belts to accurately carrythe label to the top of the bottle and accurately and firmly locate thehanging label over the bottle neck. The belts 140, 142 are driven byservo motors which are synchronised with the bottle 146 handlingapparatus. The apparatus also includes “web present sensors” 150, 152and a rotary knife 154.

FIG. 13 illustrates a novel hanging label 200 which is particularlysuited to application by the apparatus of FIG. 10. A semi-circularaperture 202 is defined at one end of the hanging label, adjacent arectangular flap portion 204 which is cut out from the label and joinedto the label along one side 206, only. The label 204 pivots or iscantilevered about the pivot line 206.

When the label 200 is applied over the neck of the bottle, the flap 204acts as a cantilever or biasing means and biases the main body of thelabel 208 to lie against the side of the bottle, rather than project astends to occur with looser fitting hanging labels.

FIG. 11 shows a yet further variant of the apparatus of FIG. 6. Theapparatus is again substantially identical to the apparatus of FIG. 6except for the applicator end of the apparatus and the orientation ofthe apparatus. The applicator end is modified to allow the apparatus toapply labels to the body of a cylindrical object such as a wine bottle.The labels need not be multi-layer labels of the type described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 5 but may be single layer labels printed on oneside only but they must form a continuous web ie be joined to oneanother for use on the apparatus. Bottles 160 are carried on a carouseland a label 162 is carried by a belt drive 164. Adhesive is applied byan applicator 166 to the rear of the label to the leading edge of thelabel as it is applied to the bottle and to the trailing edge of thelabel. The label is stretched around the bottle as it is applied withthe trailing edge being stretched over and glued on top of the leadingedge.

FIG. 12 shows a yet further variant of the apparatus of FIG. 6. Theapparatus is again substantially identical to the apparatus of FIG. 11except for the applicator end of the apparatus. In this case thecarousel carries containers 180 having a rectangular section and thesingle layer labels are applied to one side of the container using gluefrom applicator 160 which can apply adhesive either to the back of thelabel or more preferably to the container itself. A roller 182 smoothsthe label onto the side of the container.

Both of the apparatus of FIGS. 10 and 11 can also be used to applymultilayer labels, if desired.

The above apparatus described in FIGS. 6 to 12, can be simply modifiedto utilise labels to which cured adhesive has been applied, by adding areactivation means/station before the labels are applied to a containeror the like. Modifications can also be made to accommodate fanfoldedlabels stored in boxes.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive.

1. A method of applying hanging labels over the neck of a bottlecomprising the steps of: providing a roll of hanging labels joined in asingle continuous web, without a separate support web and without a lineof weakness between labels each hanging label being planar and defininga neck-aperture extending through the plane of the label; feeding thehanging label web through a guide channel to an applicator comprising acutting means disposed adjacent to a feed belt means including an upperand a lower feed belt; separating a hanging label from the web via thecutting means of the applicator; transporting and positioning theneck-tag over the neck of a bottle by means of the feed belt means; andreleasing the hanging label onto the neck of the bottle, with theaperture encompassing the neck of the bottle.
 2. A method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the transporting step includes holding the separatedhanging label between two spaced apart lower belts by grasping the edgesof the hanging label and leaving the aperture of the separated hanginglabel exposed for positioning over the neck of the bottle.
 3. A methodas claimed in claim 2, wherein the hanging label includes an upperportion defining an aperture through which the neck of a bottle may passand a main body portion and an associated biasing means for biasing themain body portion against the bottle.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1,wherein each hanging label includes an upper portion defining anaperture through which the neck of a bottle may pass, a main bodyportion and an associated biasing means for biasing the main bodyportion against the bottle.
 5. A method of applying hanging labels overthe neck of a bottle in which the hanging labels are carried in the formof a continuous web of material without a separate support web, using anapplicator apparatus comprising: a loading station including first andsecond reels of hanging labels in a continuous web form, each hanginglabel encompassing a neck-aperture; a means for automatically feedingthe continuous web of labels from the second reel of hanging labels onexhaustion of the first reel, and vice versa, enabling continuousoperation of the apparatus, wherein the last hanging label on each reelis secured to the reef by a removable adhesive means such that itreleases from the wheel without damage, for subsequent application to aneck of a container; a guide channel for receiving the continuous web;means for feeding the web material to the guide channel; a cutting meansdisposed at the end of the guide channel for separating the hanginglabels from the continuous web; and a dispenser for receiving andtransporting a separated neck-tag, the dispenser being disposed adjacentto the cutting means and comprising at least one upper belt means and atleast one lower belt means for transport and application of the hanginglabels over the neck of a bottle or the like located below the lowerbelt means, the method comprising the steps of: providing a roll ofhanging labels joined in a single continuous web, without a separatesupport web, hanging labels encompassing neck-apertures; feeding the webthrough the guide channel to the culling means; separating a hanginglabel from the web by mean of cutting means; transporting the hanginglabel over the neck of a bottle by means of the upper and lower feedbelt means; and depositing the aperture of the hanging label over theneck of a bottle disposed below the lower feed belt thereby hanging theseparated hanging label from the neck of the bottle.
 6. A method asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the hanging labels are multi-layer labels.7. An applicator apparatus for applying hanging labels over the neck ofa bottle each hanging label encompassing a neck-aperture extendingthrough the plane of the label, the applicator apparatus comprising: aloading station including first and second reels of hanging labels,encompassing neck-apertures, in a continuous web form, without a supportweb; a means for automatically feeding the continuous web of labels fromthe second reel of hanging labels on exhaustion of the first reel, andvice versa, enabling continuous operation of the apparatus, wherein thelast hanging label on each reel is secured to the reel by a removableadhesive means such that it releases from the reel without damage, forsubsequent application to a neck of a bottle; a guide channel forreceiving the continuous web fed from the first or second reels, andmeans for feeding the continuous web along the guide channel; a cuttingmeans disposed at the end of the guide channel for separating a hanginglabel from the continuous web of hanging labels; and a dispenser meansfor receiving and transporting a separated hanging label, the dispensermeans being disposed adjacent to the cutting means and comprising atleast one upper belt means and at least one lower belt means fortransport and application of the hanging labels over the neck of abottle located below the lower belt means.
 8. An applicator as claimedin claim 7, wherein the lower feed belt means comprises two spaced apartfeed belts and the transporting step includes holding the separatedhanging label between the two spaced apart lower belts by grasping theedges of the hanging labels and leaving the aperture of the separatedhanging label exposed between the spaced apart belts for positioningover the neck of the bottle.
 9. An applicator as claimed in claim 7,wherein the cutting means is a rotary cutting means.